So I had a friend over yesterday to trade some video games and all that cool stuff. Whilst he was here, he hadn't seen my bass guitar yet and now was his chance to see the (beautiful) instrument. A semi-fast song was playing on my stereo, so I decided to simply play along with it really quick. I picked up the guitar, turned my amp on, grabbed a pick and started playing. His reaction - He called me a pussy because I was using a pick.

Now seeing as this was a pretty heated discussion in that alternate picking thread (however long ago that was) I figured we would dedicate a thread to it.

Why do people disregard against using a pick on the bass guitar? It's not just the fact that apparently my friend thinks that I'm a pussy, but all over Youtube, in videos of people posting awesome videos of which they used a pick, they are bombarded with YOU SUCK and omfg a pick? noob. Now I know that seeing stuff like that on Youtube isn't a big surprise, but it just seems like everywhere I go, people are hating against using a pick on the bass guitar.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't use a pick on EVERY song. Heck, I love playing with my fingers. I only normally use a pick for faster rock songs. In fact the main song I'm working on covering right now sounds a LOT better with a pick and it sure makes it a heck of a lot easier to play.

I asked my friend why I am apparently a pussy for using a pick, and he said because it makes a different sound. Well no shit. But is it a bad sound? No. It's simply just a different sound. He also said that it takes away from the beauty of the bass guitar and how it's meant to only be played by fingers. He's wrong. The beauty of the bass guitar is to provide music and a decent bass melody in songs. It's not like god got up and said "this shalt only be played with fingers" so I don't know where he is getting all this "beauty" crap from.

This all is my opinion of course. It just bugs the crap out of me when I see people bitching other people out for using a pick. When it comes down to it, we're all musicians and we all have our different styles of playing and how we like to play our instruments. I just wish I didn't see the bitching everywhere I go.

Bolt Thrower would sound horrible if Jo Bench didn't use a pick. One of the reasons I love them is because her bass lines sound like a *bleep*ing tank rumbling.



She's one of the most audible bassists I've ever heard because of her usage of the pick. It might be a little hard to hear because of youtube quality and the mixing of the song down to mono thanks to youtube.

I don't use a pick because I prefer the way it sounds without a pick, but that doesn't mean I hate the sound of the pick. It's all relative to the music.

This message was edited by LordMaximus on Jan 24 2008.

Picks can sound good for the right type of music such as punk. I Don't use a pick much because it doesn't feel natural to me. I also hate metal bassists that use a pick, it just doesn't cut through the mix at all in metal. Honestly, i respect finger players more, better sound than a pick unless you're playing punk, but i generally leave the whole thing alone because i can't be arsed to spark up an argument.

To tell you the truth, I think that using a pick depends on what kind of music you want to play, like Metallica Rocks said. But there are some really good hard rock/metal bassists like Duff McKagan from GNR and Roger Glover from Deep Purple, and if I'm not mistaken, Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead, who use picks. It's true that you can play faster on one string with a pick, with the exceptions of a few people like Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, Geddy Lee, etc. But even Steve Harris uses a pick sometimes, on a couple songs from the new Iron Maiden album.

[ass comment]Bassist who use a pick = bad.[/ass]


But really.. I think using a pick is stupid, it's so.. Boring. The sound is awful you get from it, and you can only PICK. You have so much more possibilities with your fingers, not to mention a much better sound (in my opinion I guess).


I too, respect bass players with a pick much more.



And I don't think I've heard of "a greatest bass player" who uses a pick.

I didn't say "greatest bass player," I just said really good. Listen to "Highway Star" by Deep Purple, the bassist Roger Glover is using a pick but it's a great song and has an awesome bass line

You can play faster on a bass using fingers than with a pick. Alternate picking vs. four fingers.

An example of insanely fast played with fingers = John Myung.

Yeah you can play much faster without a pick and it's much easier, rather than move your WHOLE hand at the wrist which hurts after a while, just move your fingers. fingers just come much more naturally to me.

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I asked my friend why I am apparently a pussy for using a pick, and he said because it makes a different sound. Well no shit. But is it a bad sound? No. It's simply just a different sound. He also said that it takes away from the beauty of the bass guitar and how it's meant to only be played by fingers. He's wrong. The beauty of the bass guitar is to provide music and a decent bass melody in songs. It's not like god got up and said "this shalt only be played with fingers" so I don't know where he is getting all this "beauty" crap from.

I prefer not to use a pick, but then I'm a fretless player by far. I like to really feel the bass when playing, so I use fingers on both ends. Feels like I'm in a lot more control and there's just a lot less impact on my right arm.

I probably couldn't start picking up pick playing at the moment because of the paralysis in my index finger, and my entire arm just tenses up when I try to hold a pick, especially my thumb and finger. It'd get better with time but that sort of stress just shouldn't be put on my hand.

This thread is being kept under tight watch, so no flamingz plox. Or else i'mma you deutschweilers.

quote Metallica Rocks

I also hate metal bassists that use a pick, it just doesn't cut through the mix at all in metal.

quote standard

But really.. I think using a pick is stupid, it's so.. Boring. The sound is awful you get from it, and you can only PICK. You have so much more possibilities with your fingers, not to mention a much better sound (in my opinion I guess).

quote LordMaximus

You can play faster on a bass using fingers than with a pick. Alternate picking vs. four fingers.

quote AnonymousGuy

Because it destroys the tone man. A bass is a low frequency instrument, which means that its place is in the background constructing the foundation for the song. When you play it with a pick, it destroys the thickness and fullness of the tone, thus completely defeating the purpose of the instrument.

I do however think picked basslines verses fingered basslines is relative to the type of music being produced. Honestly, I think that a heavy metal or jazz bassist should NEVER use a pick. (IMO of course) It's just lazy and it doesn't compliment the music as well. In addition, a punk bassist should probably use a pick in order to achieve the speed necessary and to be able to tremelo quickly.

Some bassist's use their fingers on some songs then a pick on other songs. Chris Wolstenholme of Muse uses fingers on most songs, even the fastest ones like Stockholm Syndrome which is just 16ths all the way through for 5 and a half minutes. He uses a pick however on songs such as Knights of Cydonia and Map of the Problematique, as it makes a different sound and sounds better in those songs.
I'm a guitarist primarily, but just recently got into bass, so using a pick is much easier for me, but I am still trying to learn how to play with my fingers.

Look at flea. He plays all types of bass. IMO, there is nothing wrong with using a pick with a bass, I use it sometimes.

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Why would the bass be solely confided to rhythm because of the frequency of it? Would this apply to to high pitched instruments only playing melodies?

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But then if we carry that train of thought over to guitar, then using a pick on guitar is stupid too? No such thing as awful sound necessarily either. Just different sounds. At least to me.

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And, why should metal and jazz bassists be neglected from the privelege to pick?...
...Heavy metal can contain tremolo-picked parts too.

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Why would it be considered lazy?